Here’s a another great alternative to buying bottled water.   This Restore Clean Water System consists of an 8-cup pitcher and an ultraviolet adapter.  Restore has a unique dual-filter process for eliminating solid particulate material as well as bacteria and viruses from your tap water.  The pitcher has both a carbon filter and an ultraviolet germ-killing system.  Unlike pitcher filters from Pur, Brita, and Zero Water, the Restore pitcher has a two-step water purification process.  In step one – a carbon filter reduces any heavy metals, chlorine and industrial pollutants in your water – in step two, the unit’s UV purification system removes 99.99% of viruses, bacteria and microbial cysts.

As our latest Tried and True Green Products Review, HoMedics was kind enough to provide us a free unit for testing.  We found that it took 4 pitchers of water to get the subtle carbon flavor of the particulate filter out of the water, but after that, the filtered water tasted fine.  The two-step process takes a couple of minutes, (the UV process takes 1 minute), and involves plugging the pitcher into the UV adapter, which has a retractable cord.  The unit has a smallish carbon filter (for filtering solid materials) that’s estimated to last 2 to 4 months, under typical home use. (more…)

With Halloween behind us, it’s nearly time to pack away the festive fall décor to make space for the merrier holiday gear. What to do with the pumpkin that sat on your porch stoop? While the thrifty bakers among us will likely turn it into a Thanksgiving pie, the beauty hounds can do one better and whip up an easy mask that will keep your pre-winter dry skin glowing.

After all, pumpkins are chock-full of vitamins A and C, as well as zinc, to hydrate the skin and leave skin supple, soft and most importantly, chemical-free. (No formaldehyde or petroleum derivatives in my skin care, thank you.)

Mix up a mask of your own by combining:

• Two tablespoons cooked (or canned) pumpkin
• One-half teaspoon organic honey
• A dash of organic milk or soy milk
• Optional: one-half teaspoon of brown sugar for extra exfoliation

Slather it on and allow to dry completely before rinsing off. Clean, open pores will put a smile on your face and allow you to follow up with your favorite natural moisturizer, promising ultra hydration that’s perfect for fall’s blustery winds.

The body wash and shampoo aisle is overwhelming. There are literally thousands of different soaps and shampoos “specially formulated” for your hair by people who have never seen your hair. Here are a few things to watch out for when buying soaps:

• soap companies can put “natural” on just about anything
• “fragrance” means a conglomeration of chemicals
• avoid anything that has palm oil, as it is extremely unsustainably harvested

A great resource when purchasing health & beauty products is the good guide. They have a rating system that helps you tease out the good from the bad throughout the grocery store. Here’s what they say about soaps. You can also look for local soap producers, and see if you can support their business and get clean, chemical free soap.

If you’re interested in making your own soap from scratch, it’s a pretty complicated process. Especially bar soaps, which easily turn into messy, slimy little balls. You’ll also need several ingredients you probably don’t have lying around the house, such as lye and tallow. If you have the time, and the patience however, home made soaps leave your skin feeling really soft, and they also make great green gifts.

Half way recipes (in which you take a pure form of soap and spruce it up) can be fun and easy to do at home (more…)

We were recently afforded the opportunity to test several soaps, a lotion and a lip balm made from goat’s milk; compliments of Marsha Louk of Laurel Fork Farm.  Laurel Fork Farm is located in West Virginia and is family owned and operated.  They use all natural ingredients, no dyes, chemicals or preservatives.  Their products are made from real goat’s milk and the goats are pasture raised without the use of hormones and minimal use of store bought grain.

Now, don’t let the thought of washing with milk unsettle you if you are new to the use of goat’s milk in personal hygiene products.  It really is delightful to use.  The Blueberry Goat Milk Lotion smells like blueberry and alerts your senses to a pretty fruit scent.  It leaves my hands feeling so soft.  As an example, I put the lotion on generously last night before I went to bed.  Since waking, I have washed my hands numerous times and my hands still feel soft.  I’ve never experienced anything quite like that before in any hand lotions I have used.  (more…)

We live in world filled with chemicals, toxins and unknown substances.  Emerging science increasingly connects exposure to toxic chemicals with serious health problems.  From Bisphenol-A in baby bottles to phthalates in children’s toys and flame retardants in nursery furnishings, the modern home is filled with synthetic compounds that research now shows likely cause neurological and behavioral disorders, reproductive and developmental disruption, cancer and other troubles.

There are hundreds of untested chemicals in the products families use every day.  The business-friendly law that directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct safety reviews of chemicals, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), was passed by Congress over thirty years ago.  Since then, the EPA has investigated a paltry 200 of the more than 80,000 chemical compounds available to manufacturers today.  Critics of the law say it doesn’t give the EPA enough authority to demand that companies supply the information needed to evaluate a chemical’s risk.

Now, Safer Chemicals Healthy Families, a coalition of nearly 30 leading, health-conscious, non-governmental organizations, is working with Congress to overhaul the nation’s chemical regulations.  Supporters of the coalition include the Environmental Defense Fund, Healthy Child Healthy World and Seventh Generation, the maker of all-natural cleaning products and diapers.  The group supports new legislation (more…)

I recently had the privilege of trying out some products provided by OnlyGreen Organics, a new direct sales company offering certified organic products.  Susie Schiering, an Independent OnlyGreen EcoAdvisor, was generous enough to send me samples of their new shampoo and conditioner, an orange creamsicle lip balm and compostable plastic ware.

The VADA brand shampoo and conditioner are manufactured by OnlyGreen and they work very well.  However, as with most organic toiletries when the sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate is missing the lather is just not as abundant as it is with mainstream brands.  I will say that in the (more…)

It’s impressive that way back in 1921 Weleda’s founders met with Rudolf Steiner, a pioneer in biodynamic farming, and together, essentially planted the seeds for what they are today — an organic, holistic-based, international skin care company.  Over the years, Weleda has an established tradition of working in harmony with nature to create some of the most pure and natural personal care products available anywhere.

A few weeks ago, Weleda asked if I’d like to try their new Pomegranate Regenerating Body Care; I was all for it.
As you may already know, pomegranate is an antioxidant, dermatologically tested and proven to increase skin smoothness, moisture levels and accelerate skin renewal.  I’ve enjoyed using this exciting new line for the past couple of weeks.  The products pack a lot of punch, penetrating and energizing the skin without (more…)

What today falls into the niche of “DIY” (do it yourself), is in fact the longest human tradition there is.  It’s funny that today we need people to teach us how to do it ourselves, that we can’t fathom making things we find essential.  Do it yourself-ism is a quiet, but effective way of protesting the consumerism that has gripped us.  By taking the few extra minutes to make your own shampoo, deodorant, shirt or whatever it is, you’re turning your back on big companies and bringing your health and well-being back into your own hands.  It may not seem like a big deal when you do, because it isn’t, it’s what we’re made to do.

Take, for example, deodorant.  Many people consider it a daily necessity (and perhaps more people should).  Rather than going to the store, look for a few things in your cabinets: (more…)

I’ve often heard people say they do their best thinking in the shower, and although I can’t say I’m one who does heavy brain work amidst the suds I did take a minute the other day to read the back of my shampoo bottle.

What I saw surprised me.  Water, sodium laureth sulfate, glycol distearate, sodium lauryl sulfate, cocamidopropylbetaine, cocamide MEA, zinc carbonate, behentrimonium chloride, fragrance, magnesium sulfate, sodium benzoate, zinc chloride, sodium citrate, benzyl alcohol, sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, blue 1, red 4.

I’m not sure I want all those things that close to one of my most vital organs, or possibly getting into my eyes, nose or mouth.  Of the twenty-two ingredients that are in most shampoos, only about three of them actually clean.  Others, like cocadamide MAE are suspected carcinogens.  Americans spend almost $11 million each year on shampoos that contain these toxic and useless ingredients.

As a college student I’m not generally keen on paying for more than I’m getting (and nineteen to one just doesn’t cut it) so I went to the trusty internet to investigate a solution, and found several recipes for homemade shampoo.  After some testing and several washes my hair was happy and I had a good working concoction. (more…)

Breakout your bong, headband and suede fringe vest.  OK, so it’s Woodstock’s 40th Anniversary – who performed back then?

Richie Havens, Ravi Shankar, Arlo Guthrie, Quill, Country Joe McDonald, John Sebastian, Santana, Canned Heat, Mountain, Grateful Dead, Credence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin, Sly and the Family Stone, The Who, Jefferson Airplane, Joe Cocker, Country Joe and the Fish, 10 Years After, The Band, Blood Sweat and Tears, Johnny Winter, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young; Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Sha-na-na, Jimi Hendrix (aka Gypsy, Sun and Rainbows).  That was most of the Friday – Monday lineup.  Talk about a concert. (Tix cost 18 bucks, comparable to $75 today; but many caught it all for free.)

The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, The Byrds, Bob Dylan, Mind Garage, The Moody Blues, Spirit, and Tommy James and the Shondells all regret declining the invite. (more…)